U.S. says Guatemala ministry is interfering in election transition of power

FILE PHOTO: Guatemalan President-elect Bernardo Arevalo gestures on the day he delivers a speech to supporters during a protest outside the Supreme Court of Justice (CSJ), after he temporarily suspended his participation in the government transition following a raid on electoral facilities by the top prosecutor's office, in Guatemala City, Guatemala September 18, 2023. REUTERS/Luis Echeverria/File Photo

GUATEMALA CITY (Reuters) - The U.S. State Department said on Sunday it is "gravely concerned" that Guatemala's Public Ministry is trying to undermine the transfer of power to President-elect Bernardo Arevalo, who recorded a landslide victory in August.

The ministry, which functions similar to the attorney general in other countries, raided the Supreme Electoral Tribunal on Friday for at least 20 hours to seize boxes holding tabulations from general election voting.